Oh boy! Just what we need another labor dispute in professional sports especially with there being the potential for all three major sports to be locked out in the future (NBA 2011, NHL 2012, and NFL 2011), why not the refs eh? I propose that we could loan the NHL a few of the WCHA's
buffoons finest on ice officials incase there is a shortage due to a potential walkout/strike.
LONDON, Ont. - Amid a report that minor league officials have been contacted to work in the event of a labour disruption by NHL referees and linesmen, the league insists that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached before opening night.
The Hockey News says American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League officials who do not already work part time for the NHL have been approached about possible employment, as CBA talks continue with the NHL Officials Association. The officials and the league have been without a deal since Aug. 31.
“We don’t anticipate any game disruptions and I don’t believe the officials do either,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Toronto Sun via e-mail. “We are continuing in the process of getting a new deal and have every expectation we will get one done in due course.”
The unnamed official contacted by THN.com said he would not become a scab but added “there are a lot of my colleagues that are surprisingly jumping at the chance.”
